Three years after the Arab Spring protests began, violence in Syria has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of Syrians and created millions of Syrian refugees. In spite of calls by politicians and pundits, the majority of Americans have continued to oppose US military intervention in Syria. Stephen Zunes and Paul Larudee will discuss the roots and development of the current crisis in Syria and suggest possible resolutions.

Stephen Zunes is professor of Political Science at the University of San Francisco. Paul Larudee is a founder of the Free Gaza movement and a leader of the Syria Solidarity Movement.

Co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace - Santa Cruz, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and the Resource Center for nonviolence.

$10-15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds. For further information call 831-216-6570

This event is co-sponsored by

Jewish Voice for Peace—Santa Cruz Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom The Resource Center for Nonviolence

The Syrian Civil War has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Syrians and the displacement of over 2 million Syrian citizens. The Syrian Uprising of 2011 occurred as the result of a wave of revolutionary protests—referred to as the Arab Spring—which materialized in 2010 throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. While many of the countries that participated in the Arab Spring experienced democratization and an extension of political, civil, and economic rights as a result of widespread civilian unrest, the Syrian government responded to the uprising with brutal and unrelenting force that consequently led to a bloody and seemingly endless war between pro and anti government forces. Three years have passed since the conflict in Syria began, and still the bloodshed continues unabated. Despite the fact that a majority of Americans oppose US military intervention in Syria, news pundits and politicians offer military intervention as the only plausible solution to ending the conflict in Syria. However, the extension of US military forces into Syria would perpetuate a larger imperialist practice of US intervention in the Middle East, while ignoring the other possible resolutions to what has become a devastating civil war.

Stephen Zunes, a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, is one of the country’s leading scholars of U.S. Middle East policy and of strategic nonviolent action. Paul Larudee, who just returned to the US after visiting Syria, is a founder of the Free Gaza movement and a leader of the Syria Solidarity Movement. Both Zunes and Larudee will discuss the roots and development of the current crisis in Syria and will suggest possible resolutions.

The impact of the crisis in Syria extends beyond Syria and the Middle East. The Syrian conflict affects the international community by challenging the ways in which world leaders and politicians address egregious human rights abuses and unbridled military and civilian violence. We hope that you can attend this event and take the opportunity to contribute to the crucial dialogue that both speakers are cultivating. We look forward to seeing you there !